Microbial fuel cell bioreactors for treatment of waters contaminated by naphthenic acids

Abstract

Aerobic biodegradation of surrogate NAs have been investigated in our earlier works using stirred tank, packed-bed, and circulating packed-bed bioreactors. We have also demonstrated the successful anoxic biodegradation of NAs coupled to reduction of nitrate or nitrite, with the biodegradation rates obtained under anoxic conditions being comparable to those achieved under aerobic conditions. Given the success in anoxic biodegradation of NAs and the recent developments in the field of microbial fuel cells as a promising technology for treatment of wastewaters, in the present work we report the results of an investigation on application of microbial fuel cell type bioreactors for the treatment of waters contaminated by NAs with concomitant generation of energy.